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Gremlin restaurants


Here at yourRestaurants, when we think of restaurant chains we're often reminded of that '80s blockbuster Gremlins. To explain that bizarre mental leap: good restaurants start out great, but sometimes they multiply and that's when things turn nasty. Running one restaurant is hard enough, but when restaurateurs try to spin multiple plates in several locations, the opportunities for chaos are many and varied. What's needed is a solid formula to keep things consistent, but then they run the risk of falling into the "do you want fries with that?" pit. It's not a pretty picture.

So is it possible to Gremlin-ise a restaurant without losing what made it a franchise-worthy concept in the first place? We think the jury's still out on that one, but here are a few places that are giving it a crack.

1
 
Wagamama, Fortitude Valley
Fortitude Valley
One of the most successful food franchises currently operating, Brit-based Wagamama is never short of punters, but does the concept translate in Oz? Poms swear by this fast-paced noodle joint, but we've been spoilt for good Asian food in this part of the world and we're not so easily impressed.

2
 
Max Brenner Chocolate Bar
Double Bay
The 'Bald Man' definitely knows chocolate and those exquisitely decorated choccies make the best gifts and self-indulgent treats. But with more and more shopping centres sporting a store and suspect items such as chocolate pizza appearing on the menu, Max Brenner might soon lose its lustre.

3
 
Iku
Glebe
With bowls of steamed vegies and lumpy tofu fritters on the menu, Iku is less McDonalds and more McRobiotic; you can't accuse this place of pumping out sub-nutritional muck for the sake of convenience. However, there are a worrying number of these little orange stores opening up. Surely it's just a matter of time till someone asks if you'd like to upsize your rice balls.

4
 
Grill'd, Hawthorn
Hawthorn
Vehemently insisting on "no drive thru" and "no clowns", Grill'd is dead-set against fast food franchises, which makes their invitation to buy a franchise a little unexpected. Their thick-cut chips with herbed mayo are still the best hangover cure we know, so we're not criticising yet, but we're watching you, Grill'd.

5
 
Guzman Y Gomez
Newtown
When this taco joint first opened in Newtown, Mexican fans were ecstatic. It's like a genuine Mexican taqueria, only clean and snazzy. But with these lively eateries spreading across the city like spilled chilli sauce, keeping that original authenticity is going to be a challenge.

6
 
Bite Me Burger Co
Bondi Beach
First, what Bite Me is doing right: seriously great burgers, unique location-based menu additions, and booze - KFC could never serve a mean martini. We have no criticism yet, but with only two branches so far, it's early days.